Shabbir cleared to return by ICC

Pakistan medium-pacer Shabbir Ahmed, who served a one-year ban from international cricket as a result of a faulty action, has been cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to return to playing at the top level.

The ICC sent their notification regarding Shabbir’s clearance to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) saying he could resume playing for the international team with immediate effect.

Shabbir, who became the first international bowler to be banned for a faulty action back in December 2005, underwent tests at University of Western Australia, under Prof. Bruce Elliott and Daryl Foster. The report was prepared following the tests was sent over the ICC, and said that the medium-pacer’s bowling angle has improved to 10 degrees, much below the limit of 15 degrees set by the ICC.

Shabbir, who is currently playing in a Twenty20 domestic competition, said, “The ordeal for me is finally over and I am very keen to try and fight my way back into the national team. I have faced a hard time in the period the ban was imposed on me. I felt hurt because I was banned only because two or three of my deliveries were reported by the umpires.”

Shabbir has played in 10 Tests and taken 51 wickets.